Flu Epidemic Threshold Exceeded in 19 Regions of Ukraine

The epidemic threshold for influenza and acute respiratory infections has been exceeded in 19 regions of Ukraine and the city of Kyiv, according to the Health Ministry’s press service.

“During the fourth week of 2016, influenza sickness rate has exceeded the epidemic threshold in Kyiv and 19 regions, in 11 of them – by 50%,” reads a report.

In other regions of Ukraine the epidemic threshold is within the limits of 4% in Donetsk region to 42.1% in Ivano-Frankivsk region.

The sickness rate during the epidemic season in 2015-2016 is by 41.1% higher, than the level of the same period last year.

Since the start of epidemic season in Ukraine, 185 people died from laboratory tested influenza virus, including 4 children under the age of 17. Some 22 people died from influenza A virus, 2 people – from influenza B virus, and 161 – from influenza Н1N1 virus.

The highest number of death rates were registered in Odesa region (34 cases), in Vinnytsia region and Zaporizhzhia region (13 each).

According to the report, since the start of epidemic season (28 September, 2015 – February 2, 2016), over 3.3 million people in Ukraine have had flu and acute respiratory illness.